22 September 2008

Shenzhou 7 set to fly China third manned spaceflight. Unlike Shanzhou 6, -7 will carry three taikonauts (definitely the best sounding astronaut title) into orbit, with the first taking place in 2003. Sent aloft on the Long March II-F, it will be the 109th launch of a Long March rocket. Additionally, Chinese authorities report that the Long March series has a 100% success rate. Once in orbit, one of the taikonauts will perform a spacewalk.